Tottenham lacked attacking prowess

This was the weekend where the FA Cup received the kiss of life and a competition that was in danger of becoming all too predictable was reinvigorated.

We have had shocks all over the country with Premier League teams being embarrassed by clubs from the lower leagues and this was the lift it sorely needed. And if you consider Bradford's remarkable win over Aston Villa in the League Cup semi-final over two legs as well, it has been an outstanding week for cup football that has breathed new life into both of the competitions.

There used to be a time, certainly when I played, when the FA Cup was the mega competition and there was no way the big clubs would ever have played weakened teams.

The anticipation for the third-round draw was one of the highlights of the football calendar but in the last few years the big clubs have dominated.

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I would not necessarily say the FA Cup has been in the doldrums but this was the weekend where it all changed, and for the better.

Shocks are what makes it the competition everybody tunes in for and shocks are what it needed - and this weekend we have had at least four or five results that have really made people sit up and take notice.

Liverpool are just one of the big clubs to have been knocked out and you would have to say that against Oldham Athletic it was a very poor performance over 90 minutes.

They obviously played a weakened team but even with the players starting that match, and players such as Steven Gerrard coming off the bench, they should still have had enough to beat Oldham, who are close to the relegation zone in League One. The defence was the one area particularly weakened but when you have got Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in your team they should still be winning that game.

I would say it was clear after just 10 minutes that Liverpool were up against it and going to struggle.

It has always been said that when you play against clubs from the divisions below you have got to match them for commitment and get your foot in for the first 20 minutes. Then when you have taken the sting out of it, the quality should shine through and come out on top.

But it was evident early on that Liverpool were not going to match Oldham as they started so slowly. Oldham simply wanted it more and nothing can be taken away from Paul Dickov and his players because it was a magnificent afternoon for their football club.

Those players fought for their manager and the shirt and deserve a chance to try and beat another club from Merseyside when they face Everton in the next round.

Liverpool's defeat simply shows once again where the priorities of the bigger clubs lie. Tottenham are the same, after they were humbled at Leeds United in the game earlier in the day. An FA Cup game on the Sunday against lower league opposition is never going to be as important as their two Premier League games in the next seven days.

Liverpool have got two very difficult away games in a row and it would suggest Brendan Rodgers had them in mind with the team he picked at Boundary Park. They play Arsenal on Wednesday and then Manchester City on the Sunday and while there is still a chance of finishing fourth, that will be the priority.

The amount of money on offer if you can qualify for the Champions League is so vast now that the FA Cup is way down the pecking order.

It was not just Liverpool's result that caught the eye though - Millwall beating Aston Villa on the Friday night set the tone for the weekend.

I know Norwich City have been on a poor run but for Luton - a club playing in the old Conference - to win at Carrow Road was amazing. Milton Keynes Dons also had a tremendous result at QPR.

The players at those clubs will remember this weekend for the rest of the lives. They have given the FA Cup a shot in the arm and hopefully that will continue for the remainder of the season, and beyond.

Alan Hansen is a former Scotland international with over 400 caps for Liverpool from 1977 to 1991.